Landowners still in the dark on forced Mackay Ring Road sales
INITIAL work has started to clear a path for the Ring Road but landowners still have no idea when their properties will be sold to facilitate construction.
Mackay
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INITIAL work has started to clear a path for the Mackay Ring Road but landowners still have no idea when their properties will be forcibly sold to facilitate the $565 million bypass.
The Department of Transport and Main Roads (TMR) closed Bald Hill Rd between Sugar Shed Rd and south of Cinnamon Dr on Monday due to the realignment work, which started in recent weeks.
It will be carried out until Thursday, October 20 as TMR said it was necessary "to make room for the Mackay Ring Road, which will start construction in mid-2017”.
Meanwhile, Ricky Barnes and Clive Desbois, neighbours who live on opposite sides of the Bruce Hwy at Glenella, said some progress has been made since the Mercury aired concerns in August about their properties being resumed by the State Government for a rock bottom price.
Still, they remain relatively in the dark, despite TMR valuers stopping by their properties and an increase in contact from the department.
"We had their valuer come out and do the valuation inspection last week. We still don't have an idea on prices yet,” Mr Barnes said.
"Things have progressed quite quickly since the last article in the paper, so they are moving ahead and I have had meetings with them since.
"There's been two meetings since the Mercury's article and I can see things are moving. And they've told me I must have all personal belongings out by March next year, so they've set some sort of deadline.”
Mr Barnes, who owns a 3800sqm property which has been in his family since 1923, was "feeling a little more positive than earlier” thanks to increased communication.
"The valuer will now put his report together. But we didn't get much of an indication when that will be done. I'd assume that'd be two to four weeks,” he said.
Mr Barnes said he had not personally heard from any politicians who might be able to ensure a fair price, despite Mirani MP Jim Pearce, Burdekin MP Dale Last and Dawson MP George Christensen all indicating they were willing to go into bat for landowners.
"I really feel since the article came out there was some progression though,” he said.
"Whether there's been things said in the background or not, I'm not sure, but things have really sped up and the government have been really open since then.”
Mr Barnes, who would "love to see the whole process done by Christmas”, said the Mackay community has been incredibly supportive after he went public.
"A lot of people I know have pulled me up on the street and asked what's been happening. And why the government is even building the ring road,” he said.
Mr Desbois, who owns a 40ha property, which has been in his family since the 1880s, said he and his solicitor would meet with TMR on Friday to discuss his land's partial resumption.
"I organised that meeting but apart from that I'm not too sure of anything,” he said.
"We did have a contract surveyor come out and mark the land they want to use, but I haven't heard much since then.
"We're just trying to negotiate...we're trying to find a bit more about what's going on and when it will all happen.”
It's understood at least 13 properties will be fully or partially forcibly resumed by the government as part of stage 1 of the Mackay Ring Road project.
TMR has been contacted for comment.
Originally published as Landowners still in the dark on forced Mackay Ring Road sales
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